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Fifth Day
-
Novel II

[Voice:
emilia
]

[
001
]
Gostanza loves Martuccio Gomito, and hearing that he is
dead, gives way to despair, and hies her alone aboard
a boat, which is wafted by the wind to Susa. She
finds him alive in Tunis, and makes herself known to
him, who, having by his counsel gained high place in
the king's favour, marries her, and returns with her
wealthy to Lipari.

[Voice:
author
]

[
002
]
Pamfilo's story being ended, the
queen, after commending it not a little, called for one to follow from Emilia; who thus
began:

[Voice:
emilia
]

[
003
]
Meet and right it is that one should rejoice when events so fall
out that passion meets with its due reward: and as love merits in
the long run rather joy than suffering, far gladlier obey I the queen's
than I did the king's behest, and address myself to our present theme.

[Voice:
emilia
]

[
004
]
You are to know then, dainty ladies, that not far from Sicily there is
an islet called Lipari, in which, no great while ago, there dwelt a
damsel, Gostanza by name, fair as fair could be, and of one of the
most honourable families in the island. And one Martuccio Gomito,
who was also of the island, a young man most gallant and courteous,
and worthy for his condition, became enamoured of Gostanza;
[
005
]
who in like manner grew so afire for him that she was ever ill at ease,
except she saw him. Martuccio, craving her to wife, asked her of
her father, who made answer that, Martuccio being poor, he was not
minded to give her to him.
[
006
]
Mortified to be thus rejected by reason
of poverty, Martuccio took an oath in presence of some of his friends
and kinsfolk that Lipari should know him no more, until he was
wealthy. So away he sailed, and took to scouring the seas as a rover
on the coast of Barbary, preying upon all whose force matched not his
own. In which way of life he found Fortune favourable enough,
had he but known how to rest and be thankful: [
007
]
but 'twas not
enough that he and his comrades in no long time waxed very
wealthy; their covetousness was inordinate, and, while they sought
to gratify it, they chanced in an encounter with certain Saracen ships
to be taken after a long defence, and despoiled, and, most part of
them, thrown into the sea by their captors, who, after sinking his
ship, took Martuccio with them to Tunis, and clapped him in prison,
and there kept him a long time in a very sad plight.

[Voice:
emilia
]

[
008
]
Meanwhile, not by one or two, but by divers and not a few
persons, tidings reached Lipari that all that were with Martuccio
aboard his bark had perished in the sea. [
009
]
The damsel, whose grief on
Martuccio's departure had known no bounds, now hearing that he was
dead with the rest, wept a great while, and made up her mind to
have done with life; but, lacking the resolution to lay violent hands
upon herself, she bethought her how she might devote herself to
death by some novel expedient. [
010
]
So one night she stole out of her
father's house, and hied her to the port, and there by chance she
found, lying a little apart from the other craft, a fishing boat, which,
as the owners had but just quitted her, was still equipped with mast
and sails and oars. [
011
]
Aboard which boat she forthwith got, and being,
like most of the women of the island, not altogether without nautical
skill, she rowed some distance out to sea, and then hoisted sail, and
cast away oars and tiller, and let the boat drift, [
012
]
deeming that a boat
without lading or steersman would certainly be either capsized by
the wind or dashed against some rock and broken in pieces, so that
escape she could not, even if she would, but must perforce drown.
And so, her head wrapped in a mantle, she stretched herself weeping
on the floor of the boat. [
013
]
But it fell out quite otherwise than she
had conjectured: for, the wind being from the north, and very
equable, with next to no sea, the boat kept an even keel, and next
day about vespers bore her to land hard by a city called Susa, full a
hundred miles beyond Tunis. [
014
]
To the damsel 'twas all one whether
she were at sea or ashore, for, since she had been aboard, she had
never once raised, nor, come what might, meant she ever to raise,
her head.

[Voice:
emilia
]

[
015
]
Now it so chanced, that, when the boat grounded, there was on
the shore a poor woman that was in the employ of some fishermen, whose
nets she was just taking out of the sunlight. [
016
]
Seeing the
boat under full sail, she marvelled how it should be suffered to drive
ashore, and conjectured that the fishermen on board were asleep. So
to the boat she hied her, and finding therein only the damsel fast
asleep, she called her many times, and at length awakened her; and
perceiving by her dress that she was a Christian, she asked her in
Latin how it was that she was come thither all alone in the boat.
[
017
]
Hearing the Latin speech, the damsel wondered whether the wind
had not shifted, and carried her back to Lipari: so up she started,
gazed about her, and finding herself ashore and the aspect of the
country strange, asked the good woman where she was. [
018
]
To which
the good woman made answer:
“
My daughter, thou art hard by
Susa in Barbary.
”
[
019
]
Whereupon the damsel, sorrowful that God had
not seen fit to accord her the boon of death, apprehensive of dishonour,
and at her wits' end, sat herself down at the foot of her
boat, and burst into tears. [
020
]
Which the good woman saw not without
pity, and persuaded her to come with her into her hut, and there by
coaxing drew from her how she was come thither; and knowing
that she could not but be fasting, she set before her her own coarse
bread and some fish and water, and prevailed upon her to eat a little.
[
021
]
Gostanza thereupon asked her, who she was that thus spoke Latin;
whereto she answered that her name was Carapresa, and that she
was from Trapani, where she had served some Christian fishermen.
[
022
]
To the damsel, sad indeed though she was, this name Carapresa,
wherefore she knew not, seemed to be of happy augury, so that she
began to take hope, she knew not why, and to grow somewhat less
fain of death: wherefore without disclosing who or whence she was,
she earnestly besought the good woman for the love of God to have
pity on her youth, and advise her how best to avoid insult.
[
023
]
Whereupon
Carapresa, good woman that she was, left her in her hut, while
with all speed she picked up her nets; and on her return she wrapped
her in her own mantle, and led her to Susa.
[
024
]
Arrived there, she said
to her:
“
Gostanza, I shall bring thee to the house of an excellent
Saracen lady, for whom I frequently do bits of work, as she has
occasion: she is an old lady and compassionate: I will commend
thee to her care as best I may, and I doubt not she will right gladly
receive thee, and entreat thee as her daughter: and thou wilt serve
her, and, while thou art with her, do all thou canst to gain her favour,
until
such time as God may send thee better fortune;
”
and as she
said, so she did.

[Voice:
emilia
]

[
025
]
The old lady listened, and then, gazing steadfastly in the damsel's
face, shed tears, and taking her hand, kissed her forehead, and led her
into the house, where she and some other women dwelt quite by
themselves, doing divers kinds of handiwork in silk and palm leaves
and leather. [
026
]
Wherein the damsel in a few days acquired some skill,
and thenceforth wrought together with them; and rose wondrous
high in the favour and good graces of all the ladies, who soon taught
her their language.

[Voice:
emilia
]

[
027
]
Now while the damsel, mourned at home as lost and dead, dwelt
thus at Susa, it so befell that, Mariabdela being then King of Tunis,
a young chieftain in Granada, of great power, and backed by mighty
allies, gave out that the realm of Tunis belonged to him, and having
gathered a vast army, made a descent upon Tunis with intent to
expel the King from the realm. [
028
]
Martuccio Gomito, who knew the
language of Barbary well, heard the tidings in prison, and learning
that the King of Tunis was mustering a mighty host for the defence
of his kingdom, said to one of the warders that were in charge of
him and his comrades:
“
If I might have speech of the King, I am
confident that the advice that I should give him would secure him
the victory.
”
[
029
]
The warder repeated these words to his chief, who
forthwith carried them to the King. Wherefore by the King's command
Martuccio was brought before him, and being asked by him
what the advice, of which he had spoken, might be, answered on
this wise: [
030
]
“
Sire, if in old days, when I was wont to visit this
country of yours, I duly observed the manner in which you order
your battle, methinks you place your main reliance upon archers;
and therefore, if you could contrive that your enemy's supply of
arrows should give out and your own continue plentiful, I apprehend
that you would win the battle.
”
[
031
]
“
Ay indeed,
”
replied the King,
“
I
make no doubt that, could I but accomplish that, I should conquer.
”
[
032
]
“
Nay but, Sire,
”
returned Martuccio,
“
you may do it, if you will.
Listen, and I will tell you how. You must fit the bows of your
archers with strings much finer than those that are in common use,
and match them with arrows, the notches of which will not admit
any but these fine strings; and this you must do so secretly that
your enemy may not know it, else he will find means to be even with
you. [
033
]
Which counsel I give you for the following reason:
When your and your enemy's archers have expended all their arrows,
you wot that the enemy will fall to picking up the arrows that your
men have shot during the battle, and your men will do the like by
the enemy's arrows; [
034
]
but the enemy will not be able to make use of
your men's arrows, by reason that their fine notches will not suffice
to admit the stout strings, whereas your men will be in the contrary
case in regard of the enemy's arrows, for the fine string will very
well receive the large-notched arrow, and so your men will have
an abundant supply of arrows, while the enemy will be at a loss for
them.
”

[Voice:
emilia
]

[
035
]
The King, who lacked not sagacity, appreciated Martuccio's
advice, and gave full effect to it; whereby he came out of the war
a conqueror, and Martuccio, being raised to the chief place in his
favour, waxed rich and powerful. [
036
]
Which matters being bruited
throughout the country, it came to the ears of Gostanza that Martuccio
Gomito, whom she had long supposed to be dead, was alive;
whereby her love for him, some embers of which still lurked in her
heart, burst forth again in sudden flame, and gathered strength, and
revived her dead hope. [
037
]
Wherefore she frankly told all her case to
the good lady with whom she dwelt, saying that she would fain go
to Tunis, that her eyes might have assurance of that which the
report received by her ears had made them yearn to see. [
038
]
The lady
fell heartily in with the girl's desire, and, as if she had been her
mother, embarked with her for Tunis, where on their arrival they
were honourably received in the house of one of her kinswomen.
[
039
]
Carapresa, who had attended her, being sent to discover what she
might touching Martuccio, brought back word that he was alive, and
high in honour and place. The gentlewoman was minded that none
but herself should apprise Martuccio of the arrival of his Gostanza:
[
040
]
wherefore she hied her one day to Martuccio, and said:
“
Martuccio,
there is come to my house a servant of thine from Lipari,
who would fain speak with thee here privily, and for that he would
not have me trust another, I am come hither myself to deliver his
message.
”
Martuccio thanked her, and forthwith hied him with her
to her house: [
041
]
where no sooner did the girl see him than she all
but died for joy, and carried away by her feelings, fell upon his neck
with open arms and embraced him, and, what with sorrow of his past
woes and her present happiness, said never a word, but softly
wept. [
042
]
Martuccio regarded her for a while in silent wonder; then,
heaving a sigh, he said:
“
Thou livest then, my Gostanza? Long
since I heard that thou wast lost; nor was aught known of thee
at home.
”
Which said, he tenderly and with tears embraced her.
[
043
]
Gostanza told him all her adventures, and how honourably she had
been entreated by the gentlewoman with whom she had dwelt.
[
044
]
And so long time they conversed, and then Martuccio parted
from her, and hied him back to his lord the King, and told him
all, to wit, his own adventures and those of the girl, adding that
with his leave he was minded to marry her according to our law.
[
045
]
Which matters the King found passing strange; and having called
the girl to him, and learned from her that 'twas even as Martuccio
had said: [
046
]
“
Well indeed,
”
quoth he,
“
hast thou won thy husband.
”
Then caused he gifts most ample and excellent to be brought forth,
part of which he gave to Gostanza, and part to Martuccio, leaving
them entirely to their own devices in regard of one another. [
047
]
Then
Martuccio, in terms most honourable, bade farewell to the old lady
with whom Gostanza had dwelt, thanking her for the service she
had rendered to Gostanza, and giving her presents suited to her condition,
and commending her to God, while Gostanza shed many a
tear: after which, by leave of the King, they went aboard a light
bark, taking with them Carapresa, and, sped by a prosperous breeze,
arrived at Lipari, where they were received with such cheer as 'twere
vain to attempt to describe. [
048
]
There were Martuccio and Gostanza
wedded with all pomp and splendour; and there long time in
easeful peace they had joyance of their love.